Build Thread: Pizzafied 128

[ZHPizza]

Looks like there's no intro or build thread section, so guess I'll post up here! I wasn't planning to make a fuss about this car, but after reading over my ZHP build thread and not remembering most of it, I realized I need somewhere to document the things I do (for myself more than anything).

A brief history of how I ended up here:
1991 525i (first car wow BMW's are great)
1995 M3 (way too much car for a 17yo)
1993 325is (daily driver through college)
2003 330i ZHP (daily driver through 20s)
*Snuck a new Mazda6 in here thinking I could be happy without a BMW that was false*
2005 330ci ZHP (daily driver turned project car now for sale)
2000 325it (wife's wagon that is now for sale)
2021 i3 (wife's new go kart)
2013 128i MSport (new project car let's go)

This whole thing came about last fall when I was riding with a BMW buddy in my ZHP, going through the list of everything I had done to address how heavy/underpowered/sloppy it was, but it still not being what I wanted. I was lamenting the fact that it was my only option since BMW stopped making N/A I6's with manual gearboxes and hydrualic steering, when he informed me that there is another one...

I went DEEP into learning about the 128 and, less than a month later, was boarding a plane to Vermont to drive this beauty back home.

[ZHPizza]

Flew up on Friday morning, took a cab to the seller's house, signed some papers, and started driving!

Vermont was of course gorgeous in October and the car was absolutely amazing. I felt like I could have driven the full 15 hours straight without a problem, but opted to grab a hotel around 1am so the wife didn't throw a fit about me driving through the night.



One concern that I had was the 3.73 diff being annoying and killing fuel economy. While I did find myself looking for a 7th gear out of habit, I was very pleasantly surprised to average almost 30mpg over the 915 mile trip (including stops, idling, and redlining every onramp).



Reference photo of 3k RPM at 75mph:

[ZHPizza]

First thing I had to do was add a clutch stop because good lord that thing had a long throw. $30 very well spent.



Then I went and cut the charcoal filter out of the airbox. Shifting is much easier now that I can actually hear the engine!


And spent way too much time sanding the headlight lenses down to bare plastic and refinishing them. You really can't beat the easily replaceable lenses on the e46 sedans.


The last piece was installing a prepainted lip spoiler that the PO had included with the car. I was shocked how much I liked how it added to the sporty stance.

[ZHPizza]

The next thing that I found time for was addressing something that bothered me to no end about the LCI — those damn dumbo ears!

I spent months looking for some Pre-LCI mirrors, even considering some black ones that I could paint, then got frustrated and paid too much for a used set from Schmiedmann.

Worth it for the peace it brings, though. It's a subtle change in pictures, but in person the car looks so much lower/sleeker/less dumb.

[80_Mark]

I have a 2009 128i m sport with the small mirrors. Totally worth it

[spidertri]

Awesome 128, we need to get a CLT area meet up going.

[ZHPizza]

Originally Posted by spidertri

Awesome 128, we need to get a CLT area meet up going.

There's more of us?? Definitely!!

[ZHPizza]

Knocked out another little install tonight with the P3 vent gauge. Glad I didn't pony up for the "preinstalled in a new OE vent" option as P3 was kind enough to put together instructions and a video showing how to disassemble the vent and install the screen.

Love the look and was pleasantly surprised to see how many useful items I could monitor! I didn't write them all down, but off the top of my head I can recall:

• Coolant temp
• Oil temp
• Intake air temp
• Exhaust gas temp
• Air fuel ratio
• Rpm
• Throttle %
• Ignition timing (edit I looked it up: This shows the time at which the spark plug is fired in relation to the position of the piston. Measured in degrees before or after TDC (Top Dead Center))
• Battery voltage
• 0-60 timer
• Speed

[cerealwars]

Congrats on the unicorn find! Love your build so far.

I've been reading through your red car's saga on the mafia. Great entertainment while I wait for my computer to load at work. Makes me nostalgic for the days when forum activity was banging.

Have you considered trying OMP pedal pads on the 1er?

[ZHPizza]

Originally Posted by cerealwars

Congrats on the unicorn find! Love your build so far.

I've been reading through your red car's saga on the mafia. Great entertainment while I wait for my computer to load at work. Makes me nostalgic for the days when forum activity was banging.

Have you considered trying OMP pedal pads on the 1er?

Hah thanks man that was a wild ride over there. I really don't understand the shift to Facebook for car discussions - it's truly the worst possible format for documenting anything and searching for info. My only guess is that the newer generations are so used to just finding an answer on YouTube that they never developed the muscle to dig through forums and gather knowledge bit by bit. If they posted on here they'd be told to search as it's been discussed into oblivion, but if they post on Facebook you get a dozen answers, none of them really good or thought out since someone will ask the same question tomorrow, but answers with little effort.

Back to your question, though: I don't think I test fit the OMP pedals in the e82 and don't recall why. I did buy a set from Bimmerworld, but haven't installed. And they're not going to have the guard on the brake pedal to keep your shoe from catching behind it when transitioning from gas to brake. That seems to be OMP specific. I'll let you know if I track them down and fit them this winter.

[Alan.SD]

Congrats on your new project. I myself have been looking for a 128i for just under a year. Enjoy the build.